The popularity of park benches can be traced back to the Victorian era when they served as very good vessels in which people can rest, interact with other people, or simply admire nature. Even though the word park bench has the word park in it, this furniture is not exclusive to this place only. They can also be used in zoos, parking lots, malls or any place which are regularly visited by people. These benches are made with sturdy materials that can survive external elements like rain, snow, and abrupt changes in temperature. There are three types of park benches namely those made of wood, metal, and plastic.
Wooden Park Benches
When it comes to wood benches, some of the most popular type is those of teak, acacia, and eucalyptus. Teak benches are considered to be the most popular and expensive because of its natural properties that make it durable against rotting, insects and water damage. Also, benches made from this material can survive to up to more than a century even though left untreated. Benches made with acacia, moreover, are viewed as highly valuable types of furniture because of their attractive smoothness in grain and sturdiness. Even though not commonly used as material for park bench, treating it with teak oil can turn it into very good outdoor furniture. The last material is eucalyptus. This wood gained its popularity because of its eco-friendly outdoor furniture quality. It is considered as a non-endangered type of wood so using and mass producing it cannot cause any harmful damage to the world’s natural balance of resources. Benches made with eucalyptus survive longer when treated once or twice a year with teak oil.
Metal Benches
As for metal benches, cast aluminum and iron are two of the most widely used. A park bench made with cast aluminum can improve the look of any outdoor space because of their unique designs and durability against rust. When turned into outdoor furniture these benches are treated and coated with special powder along with color finishes like black, pewter and bronze paint. What is even better is that they need minimal maintenance and simply needs washing with water and mild soap during cleaning. Iron benches, on the other hand, have always been one of the favorites among metal benches because of their sturdiness and appealing designs. Outdoor furniture that are made with both iron and wood have also started to become popular because of the unique look they exude. Iron benches survive longer given that they are properly coated and sealed so that they are prone to rusting.
Recyclable Plastic Park Benches
Another emerging trend in the list of materials for park bench nowadays is recyclable plastic. The concept behind this kind of bench is to make something out of the materials that can harm the environment if not recycled. Benches like this don’t need any maintenance at all except for some cleaning every now and then. Plastic benches don’t need any painting and they are also produced to endure the harshest of external elements. Moreover, even though they are lighter they cannot be blown by wind easily.
